Speaker Biography: Rafal Lewicki received his M.S. and Ph.D. degree (cum laude) in Electronics from Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw, Poland in 2005 and 2011, respectively. In December 2005, he joined the Laser Science Group at Rice University, Houston TX as a visiting scholar and currently he is holding a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University. His research interest is focused on trace gas detection using laser based spectroscopic techniques. His current activities is the implementation of quantum cascade laser based sensor platforms, enabling high resolution, selective and real time spectroscopic measurements for applications in environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics, and industrial process control.

Summary: Carbon monoxide (CO) is recognized as a major air pollutant which plays an important role in the atmospheric chemistry due to its impact on troposphere ozone formation and indirect effect on global warming by reducing the abundance of hydroxyl radicals. The major sources of CO emission into the atmosphere result from the incomplete burning of natural gas and other carbon containing fuels that are widely used for power generation, petrochemical refining as well as automobile and truck transportation. The availability of a compact CO sensor with ppbv-level detection sensitivity and fast response will allow effective monitoring and quantification of CO urban and industrial emissions. Furthermore, an elevated CO concentration levels in exhaled breath are associated with asthma, diabetes, and hemolytic diseases. Therefore, ultra-sensitive CO detection is also a promising tool for non-invasive medical diagnostics. ... Read Full Abstract [PDF]